Southern Cross University
Graduate Certificate in Education
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 8 months
- Course Type: Graduate Certificate
Equips teachers and educational professionals with the foundational knowledge to lead teaching and learning in increasingly complex educational environments.
Course overview
Enhance your skill set and further your educational career with an online Graduate Certificate in Education from Southern Cross University. As you work through the units of study, you’ll become confident in exploring everything from contemporary educational leadership to educational investigation. And, if you decide to pursue a higher qualification, units of study completed during the Graduate Certificate can be credited towards enrolment in a Master of Education.
Key facts
6th July, 2026
31st August, 2026
26th October, 2026
What you will study
The Graduate Certificate in Education Online comprises four core units.
Core units
- Contemporary Educational Leadership
- Contemporary Educational Contexts
- Leading Professional Learning
- Educational Investigation
Entry requirements
To qualify for entry to the Graduate Certificate in Education online, you must have one of the following:
- A four-year Bachelor's degree in Education from any Australian university or equivalent.
- An undergraduate degree and a fourth-year level teaching qualification from any Australian university or equivalent.
- A three-year Bachelor's degree in Teaching from any Australian University, or equivalent.
Non-standard language admission requirements for international students (IELTS) with an overall score of 7.5 or equivalent.
Recognition of Prior Learning
The Southern Cross University may recognise and grant credit for past education or qualifications in a process called advanced standing. If you're eligible for advanced standing, this can impact the number of units you need to study, reducing the time and cost of your overall degree.
Contact the university or visit its website for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Lead the future of education - You’ll learn about the various local, national and global educational contexts that can affect education practice and how to connect this to professional experiences, allowing you to identify both challenges and opportunities within educational leadership.
- Be equipped to create change - Gain the advanced research skills you need to form strategies for improvement, as well as the ability to apply learning theory into practice in your day-to-day role.
- Model lifelong learning - Further study is a way to reflect on your own teaching and learning practice. In particular, you’ll learn what is needed to lead, create and sustain a culture of reflective professional learning in a school environment.
Career outcomes
SCU Graduate Certificate in Education students work in a variety of educational contexts around Australia. Below is a snapshot of some of these roles and jobs.
- Deputy head of school
- Lead teacher
- High school teacher
- Principal
- Primary school teacher
- Education consultant
- Classroom teacher
- Assistant principal
- Community wellbeing coordinator
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative cost per unit in 2026: $2,875 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Indicative total cost in 2026: $11,500 (domestic full-fee paying place)
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of four units.
Student fees may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.